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Credit: The Associated Press

Ray Allen said that former Heat teammate LeBron James has not tried to recruit him to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ray Allen has heard all of the talk about him joining good friend LeBron James in Cleveland should he decide to return for a 20th NBA season.

The 39-year-old free agent is amused by the talk, which he considers purely speculative. He talked with the Herald today about a wide range of career issues prior to teeing off in his annual charity golf tournament in Cromwell, Conn., at the TPC Hartford course.

"No," he said when asked about the assumption that he would return as a Cavalier. "There’s so much speculation about me going to Cleveland. I haven’t even decided where I will play. Obviously LeBron and I are great friends, and James Jones and I are really close. But at no point have those two tried to push me in that direction. I haven’t had that conversation. LeBron and I went on vacation to the Bahamas earlier this summer, and we didn’t talk one iota about things. And that was before he made his decision.

"It’s just what they start talking about on TV — where I’m supposed to go. I have not leaned towards Cleveland," said Allen. "I have not made any mention of going to Cleveland. These last two months were about me physically, and deciding whether I want to play again."

Instead, Allen is weighing family concerns and a major question of whether he wants to retire in prime physical shape, or whether he wants to chase his third NBA title. That will most likely mean leaving Miami, his city of the last two years. Allen said he has not talked with Heat general manager Pat Riley, or any other member of the Heat organization, about returning.

"That’s the other dilemma. If I do play again, based on what Miami is doing or not doing, I’ll end up having to move," he said. "I’ll live in Miami, but I’ll have to move to another team."

Allen also knows what every contender interested in him has in mind. He is a 39-year-old shooter who is expected to accomodate some team's salary cap crisis by accepting a veteran's minimum contract. Not so fast, says Allen. Included on Allen's call list is his former Celtics coach, Doc Rivers, now on behalf of the Clippers.

"A lot have called. Doc called earlier in the summer," he said. "A lot of teams want to be able to get me at the veteran’s minimum. I still have an ego, too. I still have a service to provide, and teams still have to pay me what I feel my presence is worth. I have to take that into consideration, if it’s worth putting my body through what it will take over 82 games."

Nor does Allen know what kind of length he would seek in another contract.

"I haven’t even made it that far. I said this even when I was in Boston. I was on borrowed time," he said. "Knowing the guys I came in with, and even some after me who were out of the league, I felt blessed to still be doing it. I’m still wanted by the people I play with, still feared by the ones I play against, and feared by other teams that may want to have me on their side.

"It will require a perfect storm scenario for me," said Allen. "I’m in great shape, and I’ll continue to be in great shape, but I don’t want to go to a situation where I don’t understand the rhythm of how a coach coaches. He has to be a great coach, a veteran coach."